Y-HEAR Oct 27 Convening brings state leaders, practitioners, and researchers together
As fall comes to a close, change is in the air for students experiencing homelessness! CC+S’ Y-HEAR (Youth Led – Homeless Education Action Research) Initiative is working to shift the status quo in California and schools across the nation.
On October 27, over 125 advocates, youth and leaders at the school district, county and state levels came together at UC Berkeley for an exciting Learning Exchange: Showcasing Education Innovation and Research for Students Experiencing Homelessness – see event website/storymap.
Highlights
- California Department of Education (CDE) Chief Deputy Superintendent Nancy Kim-Portillo opened the event with her own story of experiencing homelessness as a young person and why this critical issue is a priority for CDE.
- Powerful youth leaders called for greater engagement of young people at policy tables, in research and – most crucially – local school policy and practice.
- CDE Leaders detailed their $8 million investment in amazing new Homeless Innovation Program (HIP) Toolkits.
And the momentum doesn’t stop there! California State Superintendent Tony Thurman pushed this collaboration to the next level with a statewide call-to-action and the announcement of a summit in Los Angeles later this week where participants will brainstorm future legislation:
Thus far, CDE has invested $100 million of federal American Rescue Funding Program (ARP) funds in new school district programming, the Homeless Innovation Program (HIP), and three regional Homeless Education Technical Assistance Centers (HETACs), to improve local response to students experiencing homelessness.
And millions remain in unallocated funds set to expire by fall 2024. The next several months present an exciting and critical opportunity to create a foundation of integrated supports, better tracking and identification and hold overall higher expectations for academic success and outcomes among students experiencing homelessness.
And the momentum doesn’t stop there! Cal State Superintendent Tony Thurman pushed this collaboration to the next level with a statewide call-to-action and the announcement of a summit in Los Angeles later this week where participants will brainstorm future legislation:
Thus far, CDE has invested $100 million of federal American Rescue Funding Program (ARP) funds in new school district programming, the Homeless Innovation Program (HIP), and three regional Homeless Education Technical Assistance Centers (HETACs), to improve local response to students experiencing homelessness.
And millions remain in unallocated funds set to expire by fall 2024. The next several months present an exciting and critical opportunity to create a foundation of integrated supports, better tracking and identification and hold overall higher expectations for academic success and outcomes among students experiencing homelessness.
